October 10, 2009

He Should Have Won Two Nobel Peace Prizes

By David Walters

Congratulations and well deserved, President Obama.

Frustrated while listening to those who would argue that President Obama has done nothing to deserve the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize, I hoped to quickly borrow someone else’s list to answer the critics. I searched the Internet and was surprised by the negativity – link after link of virulent, statements claiming he had no accomplishments. Denied the lazy way out, I made my own Top 10 list of accomplishments related to world peace.

1. Inspiring a nation and changing perception of America around the world.

All along the campaign trail, millions of Americans cheered candidate Obama’s views on the advantage of – and his intent to conduct – personal diplomacy in foreign policy. Contrast this with his opponent, Sen. McCain, who sang “bomb, bomb, bomb … bomb, bomb Iran” at a campaign stop. Obama’s message resonated outside the U.S. as well. More than 200,000 gathered in the streets of Berlin to hear Obama call for nuclear disarmament. It was a bold and brave stance in the middle of a highly competitive presidential campaign. Perhaps when the Nobel Committee referred to “extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy,” they were aware of the full history.

2. Reclaiming America’s moral high ground.

Obama reclaimed America’s moral high ground when he announced the closing of secret prisons that violated both our Constitution and the sensibilities of the world and declared an end to U.S.-sanctioned torture.

3. Reaching out to Iran with diplomacy rather than belligerence.

A remarkable and generally non-credited achievement is the positive impact of President Obama reaching out to Iran with diplomacy rather than belligerence. As a result, the Iranians decided they could now quit hating the U.S. in unison and turn their attention to getting rid of the morons running their own country, leading to the remarkable protests we witnessed following their last election. They have damn near thrown their freakish rulers out and now Iranian leaders are submitting to nuclear inspections. NONE of this was possible under a blustering Bush.

4. Re-Engaging the world.

Instead of ignoring the Israel/Palestinian conflict for seven years as the Bush administration did, Obama immediately engaged the issue with significant results. U.S. Envoy George Mitchell and former U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair, with Obama’s strong guidance and support, have dramatically eased tensions. Obama has demonstrated a sharp eye for talent on the ground. The maturity and professionalism to put a high-profile, brilliant political rival in charge of the State Department, and to have experienced envoys like Richard Holbrook crisscrossing these trouble spots, is much different than the former U.S. policy of making broad and inflammatory ideological statements and ignoring the problem.

5. Focusing attention on the real bad guys.

At the same time Obama reaches out diplomatically, the effort to get the really bad guys has been ramped up. I was in Pakistan when a drone took out Baitulah Massud, the murderous leader of the Pakistan Taliban with strong ties to Al Qaeda. Drone attacks have gone up sharply with significant results. Peace is dependent on safety and finally we are using surgical attacks rather than blunt force.

6. Joining world efforts to address environmental issues.

Obama told the world that we are no longer going to work against environmental improvements and global warming initiatives. The U.S. finally announced that carbon emissions from the world’s largest polluter are going to be reduced. Rejoining the world in this effort in a cooperative way has had enormous impact.

7. Stabilizing Pakistan

Tripling non-military support for jobs in Pakistan to try to stabilize this nuclear-armed unstable country is the right step at a critical time.

8. Re-Evaluating Afghanistan

Conducting and allowing the first ever open debate and discussion about the Afghan conflict with generals and numerous participants and then making a firm decision as to how to proceed is radically different than the past and very helpful to the future security of the US and the world.

9. Reducing Russian tensions

Reaching an agreement with Russia to enlist their help on Iran by moving a worthless land based missile defense system to a highly useful mobile ship based system has radically reduced tensions with this historical enemy.

10. Changing the world with words – and actions.

His opponents like to downplay Obama’s oratorical skills. They are wrong to do so. The Cairo speech changed the world. I was in London with a room full of Muslim businessmen who held a negative view of Obama and the U.S. Following the speech, I saw their attitude change dramatically. Obama’s blunt, truthful words released the steam from the “hate the U.S. balloon” that drives so much violence. If you have not read it, please Google it and read it. Words are important, particularly when they come out of the mouth of the President of the United States. Obama’s ability to so beautifully articulate the hopes and dreams of the U.S. – and how closely they align with the desires of billions around the globe who want only good things for their families – is important.

Frankly, the list goes on and on. Imagine trying to save the meltdown of an economy that was left in his lap while simultaneously dealing with two wars, advancing health care reform, financial controls to avoid another depression, energy policy advance, and tackling the 10 items on my list … in just nine months. They should have given him two Nobel Prizes.

French President Sarkozy had it right when he said, “this award symbolizes America’s return to the hearts of the people of the world.” UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said, “President Obama embodies the new spirit of dialogue and engagement on the world’s biggest problems: climate change, nuclear disarmament and a wide range of peace and security challenges. President Obama’s commitment to work through the United Nations gives the world’s people fresh hope and fresh prospects. We at the United Nations highly applaud him and the Nobel Committee for its choice.”

The Nobel Peace Prize is frequently about efforts rather than completed accomplishments and often intended to give momentum to causes, inspiring others to courageously pursue peace.

I agree with MSNBC host Rachel Maddow whose clear voice is resonating ever stronger, “The President of the United States has received the Nobel Peace Prize. By any reasonable measure all Americans should be proud.”

Comments

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I won't comment point by point except to note that in most cases yo are giving Obama extraordinary credit for just doing his job, and doing it with empty words. However, on your point 2, the U.S. will not regain even minimal moral stature in the world until Bush, Cheney & Co. are prosecuted for torturing and mrdering prisoners.
Further on point 5, bombing people, no matter how mch they "deserve it" does not contribute to world peace; quite the opposite in fact.